As some of my friends know, I have had a guest "hanging around". A mourning dove is using an old peat moss plant hanger on my back deck for her nest. She has 2 babies in that nest who are close to being ready to strike out on their own. I look at that little family, and they have it made. No bills to worry about, could care less who the President of the U.S. is, could really give two sh*ts about material possessions.

Theirs is a simple life. Hell, their nest was there for the taking. Actually, it's been wonderful watching them over the past few weeks. They have a "home", they don't have to count pennies for their food, and best of all, doesn't cost them a penny to fly. And people call them "dumb". Really? I'll bet their blood pressure isn't high like ours. By looking at them, they are not overweight, running the risks of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, they come and go as they please, no deadlines to meet, no time clocks, no alarm clocks, just enjoying the life they are given. Sure, there are predators to watch out for, and, even for my doves, tomorrow is not a guarantee. But, they are living without the stresses and "must haves" of the so called "smarter" species who is so selfish and self centered that we don't appreciate the wonderful world we actually do live in. Well, actually, I do know of one member here who does enjoy it because he takes some wonderful pictures of our world and shares them. But seriously, we obsess over politics, we obsess over having the latest technology, we obsess over having the best......some of us have obsessed so much that we have things like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, mental disorders, we have obsessed so much over the material, that we fail to see just how wonderful our world really is.

I know there are some who think I don't take politics serious. They would be surprised at how serious I really do take them. I just choose to not obsess over it. No, I do not put total trust and faith in our politicians to do right....if they were capable of that, we wouldn't have had the economic melt down we've been going through these last 8 or 9 years. I don't put the blame totally on the current administration nor on the previous one. I've said before, this has been in the making for far longer than that. Back in the 80's was the credit card boom, the 80's has been called the Decade of Decadence. People were spending money they didn't have, living large...and it finally caught up to us. No, I am not saying this is Regan's fault. Don't go there. It's our fault. Us, the American public for getting ourselves in debt, for choosing those who ran up the national debt doing our bidding. So stop blaming D.C and start looking in the mirror cause all of us are to blame for what we have today.

When the day comes we can all wake up and realize our part in this, then maybe we can start to fix things.

I agree with what you have to say, I for one have taken steps to simplify my life. No computer or internet at home, no dish or cable tv, no debt and only 5 bills to pay every month. I have a good job that I like and that I am good at doing and a very few select awesome friends.

I hear you sugar, I also have been cutting back. I use debit cards if the money isn't there I can't have it. I did have to buy appliances last year but they will be pd off in 2 more payments. Haven't bought anything since. I have 1 credit card for online purchases. So yeah my spending has changed a lot

soft_touch938

Jun 11 @ 11:42AM

When you live strictly on S/S, one doesn't have much choice. I do have a savings acct. but it isn't much and I just can't seem to add to it so that's one reason I'm also cutting back and cutting corners. Just like Magic Jack...not the best by far but the price is right.

I use a debit card. I have no credit cards because I know they can so easily get me in trouble!

My regret is that I wish with all my heart that I'd had more financial sense a long time ago. I wish I'd have realized how wonderful life really is when it's simple and just plain sweet...no juggling to pay bills that shouldn't have been there in the first place!